Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

Formerly brewed at Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial Stout
Escondido, California USA

Midnight brown with a medium tan protectorate. Aroma of dark and roasted malts, bitter chocolate with a mild hop presence. Taste is moderately bitter at first with chocolate, coffee, oatmeal, roasted malts, light black licorice and alcohol. The bitterness of this one overpowers the flavors a little too much. While it was a decent imp to try once, I won’t be running back for more.

Bottle that I got in a mixed case from Beers of Europe, consumed 20-02-09 Pours black with a brown head and is quite busy on the fizziness front. The aroma was initially quite creamy and had some vanilla and then all I got was rusty nail. Taste is undeniably dark, bitter chocolate, its an oily mouth clinger and so bitter. Some cold coffee dregs show but the chocolate and roasty flavours dominate. Strange that the rusty nail aroma is really taking over now. A6 A4 F7 P4 OV13 3.4

A very tasty imperial stout. Nice mix of dark chocolate and coffee. What was unfortunate about this beer is that after getting it all the way from California, from the Stone Brewery, scotch4281 fell asleep with half the beer in his hand and spilled it all over the floor. Ha!

I bought a few bombers last summer of 12th Anniversary and decided to sample one outside on a February afternoon being warmed by a chiminea. As I sat there sampling the beer and reading the back label, it was a winter day the brewer had in mind when it was brewed. Bitterness eases as my palate adjusts to the full bodied Oatmeal Stout. Dark black coffee appearance, this is a strong beer. Caught a nice little buzz from just one bomber and cellaring a few bottles made for an enjoyable winter afternoon.

Another anniversary offering from Stone which I expected to be good and it was. Obviously black, minimum brown head. It smelled like chocolate, tasted like dark bitter chocolate, fruit, and a strong alcohol component which was a little strong (and the reason I didn;t give a higher score for taste). It seems like most oatmeal stouts feel silky and this one does as well. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 07-14-2008 03:52:32

Bomber. Poured standard brown-black but with little head action. Chocolate and espresso nose. Dark bittersweet chocolate flavor with a nice roasty, almost charred coffee edge. Not exceptionally hoppy. Some traces of dark fruit underneath. Full and smooth bodied. Very comforting.

22 oz. bottle - Poured black as night with thin tan head. Aroma - oatmeal, sweet chocolate and brown sugar. Flavor - dark chocolate mixed with sweet oatmeal and coffee. Palate - medium mouthfeel with below average carbonation. Finish is mild with lingering coffee flavor. Overall - I liked this beer, sweet expresso taste and alcohol is well hidden. Stone Brewing kicks ass!!

My 2800th rating! Bottle (660ml) shared with HogTownHarry & garthicus -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Pours black with an average to large size diminishing creamy light-brown head -- looks gorgeous! Aroma’s quite roasty along with coffee, some smoke, dark bitter chocolate, alcohol and just a hint of hops. Big chocolate flavour along with espresso, lots of hops, dark fruit, some alcohol and a very bitter finish. Average to medium bodied. Great stuff, I loved it!